We ensure young children get the best start in life by supporting and regulating the early childhood education and care sector. We are the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population.

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Aboriginal peoples

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have unique skills, experience and knowledge that can make a real difference with a career in the department.

The department acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout NSW and their continuing connection to land, waterways, culture, lore and community.

We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.

The important role of Aboriginal peoples

We are working to ensure Aboriginal peoples play an increasing role in the education and training of young Australians.

Aboriginal students improve their learning outcomes and build their personal strengths when Aboriginal staff and communities are involved in their education.

You can help us increase Year 12 completion rates, expand culturally inclusive learning programs and promote opportunities for Aboriginal communities to engage with school life.

There is a constant demand for Aboriginal applicants. We will help you at every stage, starting with finding the right job and then building your skills and capabilities at work.

Employment opportunities

We have a wide range of opportunities for Aboriginal peoples to work in our schools, in our regional and state offices and within our senior executive service.

You will be supported from the moment you begin work with an induction program. There are networking and mentoring programs to support you, and you will be encouraged to develop your career through opportunities for job rotation, temporary appointments, secondments, work shadowing, and study leave.

We have two types of jobs: those identified for Aboriginal peoples, and non-identified positions open to all candidates.

If you are applying for a job that has been advertised as an Aboriginal position you will need to tell us about your Aboriginality. There are three things which are important:

being of Aboriginal descent

identifying as an Aboriginal person

being accepted by the Aboriginal community as an Aboriginal person.

At an interview for an identified position you may also be asked about your Aboriginality. In the department, it is expected that if you identify as Aboriginal for the purposes of employment you will identify as Aboriginal in the workplace.

In a job identified for Aboriginal peoples you will work in our schools or corporate offices to support Aboriginal students and communities. You will see these jobs described as Aboriginal identified positions.

We also encourage applications from Aboriginal candidates for our wide range of non-identified positions and we believe you have an important role to play in strengthening education and training for all young Australians.

Confirmation of Aboriginality

We are committed to improving the employment outcomes and wellbeing of Aboriginal staff to ensure that you have the opportunity to excel and achieve in every aspect of your career and professional development.

To ensure all applicants for Aboriginal-targeted teaching scholarships and Aboriginal identified positions are of Aboriginal descent, identify as Aboriginal and are accepted in their community as Aboriginal, we now require that all of these applicants provide confirmation of their Aboriginality. The new guideline does not apply to existing Aboriginal identified employees of the department.

The Confirmation of Aboriginality Guideline outlines the process applicants or employees must follow to apply for targeted teacher scholarships or Aboriginal identified positions, as well as current employees who wish to change their status with the department by having their Aboriginality recognised.

If you have just gained your teaching qualifications and have not yet taken up a permanent teaching role, we offer temporary teaching engagements so you can improve your teaching skills and confidence.

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and have satisfied the service requirements for transfer, you may apply to transfer with priority status.

Positions in school leadership and support

After teaching for some time, you may consider applying for a senior position that gives you the opportunity to apply your leadership and management skills. These positions include head teacher, assistant principal and principal.

Other positions you may consider include:

school education director

Aboriginal community liaison officer

Aboriginal student liaison officer

consultant Aboriginal education

home school liaison officer

school development officer

Aboriginal education and wellbeing officer

These positions give you the opportunity to support Aboriginal students, communities, teachers of Aboriginal descent and teaching communities. The positions are generally located in state and regional offices.

Support for your school administration and support career

School administration and support workers are often the first to greet students, parents and visitors when they arrive at school. The skills, experience and knowledge of Aboriginal peoples are particularly valuable in helping Aboriginal communities engage with school life.

More than 480 Aboriginal people are employed in these roles in our schools. Administration and support roles include:

Aboriginal education officers

Some positions in schools with high Aboriginal student enrolments are identified for Aboriginal peoples. In particular, Aboriginal education officers work on culturally appropriate programs and are valuable role models for Aboriginal students.

Support for your corporate career

Working in the department's corporate offices, you can help foster a relationship built on respect, commitment, collaboration and accountability.

The department is aiming to increase the number of Aboriginal staff in all our workplaces.

As an Aboriginal applicant, we value your unique skills, experience and knowledge. We believe it is important for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples to work together to enable Aboriginal students to achieve their aspirations and realise their potential.

Aboriginal peoples are specially suited to a range of identified positions that provide effective support to Aboriginal students and communities, and are actively involved in the department's decision making processes.

We welcome your application for a corporate role. Join our collaborative efforts to meet the education needs of Aboriginal peoples.

Why work with us

NSW Department of Education

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This information is current as at 15/09/2019 07:27pm, AEST. For the most up-to-date information, go to https://education.nsw.gov.au/our-priorities/strengthen-teaching-quality-and-school-leadership/school-leadership-strategy-at-a-glance.